Fellowship of Fantasy: Reader Reviews

The Review:Seldom do I come to the end of a book with such a strong desire to flip back to the front and re-read the entire thing, just so that I can hang out with the characters some more, but The Last Motley was one where I was sorely tempted to do just that. However, I have other reading commitments at the moment, so re-reading this delightful adventure will have to wait. But I can relive it a little bit by telling you about it. I shall attempt to avoid spoilers…

Slide over, Tolkien, Lewis, and MacDonald, there is a new fantasy author on the scene and he deserves a spot at your table. This book is epic, poignant, and beautiful. The characters step off the page and into your heart, the language is crafted with care, filling the book with prose that reads like poetry, and the adventure is gripping and fast-paced, with a few twists and turns along the way.

The story revolves around Roderick, a simple tailor who happens to have a chance encounter with a Motley — a young boy whose skin is covered in a patchwork of colors and has a powerful, but dangerous, magic at his disposal. Roderick is not your typical fantasy hero. He is happily married and has a daughter, and all he really wants to do is stay home and take care of them. He doesn’t have much in the way of survival skills, early in the book he is considering how hard times are and the fact that he can’t just hunt for food like his father did, “He couldn’t shoot an arrow into the river if he was drowning.” However, when Jacob comes into his life and a mysterious group of scholars tells them that the only way to keep Jacob, and the world, safe from Jacob’s magic is to take a long trip to a place where they can safely remove Jacob’s magic from him, Jacob says he will only go if Roderick comes with him. Led by Master Kendall, one of the older scholars, the three unlikely companions begin the long journey across the world of Arinn.

Along the way, they will face nightmares, thieves, roving bands of wildmen, soldiers sent by powerful men to kidnap and harm Jacob, and skirt a sudden war in order to keep Jacob safe and reach their destination in one piece.

Of the things I loved about this book, Roderick was definitely my favorite. He was just such a refreshing character. A man of humility, integrity, and a strong nature bent on protecting those around him, Roderick is exactly the sort of person I’d want to go on a journey with. He reminds me a little bit of Bilbo Baggins or Sam Gamgee… maybe not the person you’d pick first for an epic journey, but once he’s there, he’s committed, 110%. I also loved how Edwardson wove in Roderick’s faith in Adonai seamlessly throughout the book in a way that was beautiful and compelling, and it never once seemed out of place. I also enjoyed that Roderick was a veritable repository of tailor-related sayings. “Oh, buttons!” is his catch-phrase throughout the book, but he also just sort of thinks in sewing-related terminology, and I LOVED that about him.

Jacob is another favorite. With his too-wise face that has seen too much sorrow already, I just want to scoop him up and give him a hug… pretty much on every page.

Along the way they meet a thief named Nagan, and he stole my heart completely, with his colloquialisms that don’t quite make sense, and his sense of humor, Nagan is in many respects the complete opposite of Roderick. He’s a shady fellow with a penchant for thievery, and a complete disregard for anything resembling integrity. However, falling in with Roderick and company does prove to be good for him, and in the end, his mettle is proved to be solid gold beneath the coarse exterior.

The world of Arinn is fascinating and epic and everything a fantasy world should be. The journey takes the reader across much of the map, and it is obvious that the author spent a great deal of time crafting this world and pouring thought and effort into the different cities and villages and areas, making them feel different and unique from one another while still obviously part of the same world. (As a side-note, the inns all have really fun names)!

I already mentioned the exquisite language of the book, and I just want to show you a small example of what I mean by sharing one of my favorite lines:

“By noon, the sun made a feeble attempt to push its way through the soggy rag which was gagging the sky.”

Isn’t that beautiful?

I loved how important family was in this story, and how the strength of his love for his family is what keeps Roderick going. He doesn’t just think about his wife and daughter with a sort of “oh, I miss them” kind of longing, but he sees their faces, he thinks about what his wife would say about various situations or people, or how his daughter would react to seeing certain things. He carries them in his heart, and it is beautiful.

Another thing I love about this book is the humor. It’s not always a laugh-out-loud sort of humor (though there were moments, like the line I shared earlier about Roderick’s lack of hunting skills, and most of the time when Nagan is talking), but there’s also this subtle, wry, whimsical sense of humor running throughout the story and I can just imagine the author grinning as he wrote the lines, hoping that his readers would find them as amusing as he.

Honestly, I could go on and on and on… but I’ve come too close to handing out spoilers already, and really, I’d rather you go out and buy yourself a copy of this epic, wonderful, GEM of a story than stay here reading my review of it! What are you waiting for? Go get a copy!

Ideal Audience:All Ages

Books and movies you would compare this to: The Hobbit

Did you have a favorite character or least favorite character?Roderick and Nagan are my favorites, and I love Jacob and Portia as well. Kendall is also an interesting character.

What mood did this book leave you in?DelightedApplicable Tags:Christian, Epic, Noblebright, Adventure, Quests, Young Adult

Rating: PGReason for choice of rating: Romantic tension between the two main characters, people getting turned to ice and melted, epic battle at the end with mild fantasy violence

The Review:Rizkaland is unique and every bit as much fun as Bookania, but in different ways. The world is cylinder-shaped, science works differently there, and of course, portals exist between our world and there, so our hero and heroine are not native to Rizkaland.The main characters, Clara and Andrew, hail from our world, and get pulled through a doorway into Rizkaland in order to fulfill a prophecy and save multiple kingdoms from Amber, the dragon who threatens their world. However, Clara and Andrew aren’t certain they want anything to do with this destiny that has been thrust upon them. And they certainly have no interest in falling in love with each other, as the prophecy seems to imply must happen!Things I Loved:The Writing Style – It’s hard to describe a writing style, as each reader is going to have a different sort of taste or preference, but Kendra’s writing just sort of draws me in and invites me to pull a warm blanket around my shoulders and settle in, because I just know I’m about to embark on a fun adventure.Andrew – Andrew is my favorite character in this story. He is responsible, caring, compassionate, and exactly the sort of person you’d want on your side if you had to go up against a dragon. I love that he represents a more “hearth-like” sort of fire, the steady, gentle glow that keeps you warm, rather than the raging inferno or devouring monstrosity that “fiery” personalities usually engender. But that doesn’t mean he’s weak, on the contrary, it might take more to get him riled, but Andrew is no slouch when it comes to protecting the people he cares about. He has a core of steel.Clara – Although it took me longer, I did eventually grow to enjoy Clara. She got on my nerves a bit in the beginning, but she was frightened and so I suppose it makes sense that she felt the need to be prickly. I also have a soft spot for feisty, talented female protagonists who are a bit marshmallowy inside than they seem. Clara’s not as tough as she’d like you to think she is.The plot - From mazes and puzzles to solve, journeys across foreign lands, quests to find each other, hints that not all is as it seems, and the culmination of an epic battle… this story was fun to read!The references – Clara quotes things. I quote things. I think, on that front, we’d be kindred spirits. It makes me happy that I “got” every reference she made, and it was entertaining to come across these little quote-nuggets throughout the book.Things I Didn’t Love:As I mentioned earlier, Clara took a while to grow on me. She starts out kind of obnoxious, and I sort of wanted to shake her every now and then.There were a few places where the story felt like it dragged a little and nothing seemed to be happening.The battle at the end sort of felt like it ended too easily, like Amber had been hyped-up a bit too much… I guess I was expecting something a bit more epic and grand in scope.The “it’s all going to end okay” use of prophecy throughout the story kind of grated a bit on my nerves. Don’t get me wrong, I love the prophecy trope (I wrote one, myself!), I love books with happy endings and I always want the good guys to win… but I don’t want to know a quarter of the way into the book that the ending WILL be happy and that the good guys will win. For me, that detracts from the adventure. Everything was spelled out so neatly in the prophecy, it wasn’t a mysterious prophecy, it was a “this is what is going to happen, so get on board and go do it” kind of prophecy, and for me, that made it hard to get too worried about the characters.These are minor quibbles, however, and overall the story was an enjoyable read.Ideal Audience:I think this would be a great book for readers 12 and up who enjoy bantering characters, sword fights, and portal fantasy.

Books and movies you would compare this to:I recommend it to anyone who enjoys The Chronicles of Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, Inkheart, or portal fantasies in general.

Did you have a favorite character or least favorite character?Favorite: Andrew

What mood did this book leave you in?Satisfied... but that EPILOGUE!!! *sobs*

The Review:Tania is lost, shipwrecked on an unfamiliar shore. With no friends or family, the nine-year-old girl must make her way through the realm of the woodland people to a town she's never heard of. With unexpected allies from the forest, Tania departs on a wild adventure where storms rage and the forces of nature do their very best to end her journey before it has truly begun.

I've been wanting to read one of Ms. Wyatt's books ever since I had her character from her Dragon Courage series, Mere, over for an interview a while back.

This was a cute story about a young girl who gets separated from her parents on a boating trip and washes up on the shores of a land filled with small folk from three different races. Despite the fact that these three races do not usually get along, Tania's new friends all pledge to do everything in their power to take her safely home, but it is a long journey and many dangers lie in their path.

I liked the premise of the story and enjoyed the various characters. It is a light-hearted romp of a tale, and I believe it would be excellent for younger children. I'm fairly certain that my daughters (ages 9 and 6) would enjoy it very much. In this story, there are difficulties to be faced, but no serious dangers. There are obstacles to overcome, but friends to help each other through them. And while Tania does encounter some people with gruff personalities, nobody is truly unkind and there are no darker themes.

With the exception of one of the characters who has an ability to fly (that is a racial trait of his people, the Avarians) there is no magic in this fantastical tale, either, so for those who love fantasy but have an aversion to magic, this one might be up your alley.

Ideal Audience:Younger readers between the ages of 8 - 12, anyone who likes an adventure and stories about friendship.

Books and movies you would compare this to:The Incredible Journey/Homeward Bound

Did you have a favorite character or least favorite character?I loved Tania and Fhyr and Trillicius, at first I didn't like Auren, but he grew on me as I got to know his story

Rating: PGReason for choice of rating:There are a couple of kisses, which were pretty tame and not described really at all, but there's also a lot of emotional investment between the characters, hence the slightly higher rating. (minor content point related to a spoiler. Scroll down to the bottom of the review to be informed)

The Review:CommonThis book tore my heart out numerous times. I can't even express to you how many times I felt like the book could have ended so happily only to turn the page and experience the exact emotions of Luke Skywalker upon discovering that Darth Vader is his father!

I just finished this book last night and I am still processing. There were a lot of emotions throughout this story, and trying to sift through them is complicated. I think I'm just going to have to give you a list of the 10 things I loved about this book.

1. I'm not sure how to "title" this first point... so I'm just going to explain it, instead. This is the sort of book that has time-traveling capabilities. It's the kind of book that pulls you in and refuses to let you go. It's the sort of book where you lose all track of time and think, "I can't have been reading for very long... I'll just read one more chapter." Only to look up and discover that your afternoon has disappeared. I love that kind of book, the kind that is so immersive that you don't even notice you've spent several blissful hours reading.

2. Leah Wellstone. The main character was absolutely delightful. I tend to prefer male MCs and it can often be difficult for me to connect with female protagonists... particularly female protagonists who are telling the story from a first-person POV... so this is VERY high praise, indeed, because Leah has taken a place in my heart on the "favorite characters" list, and that is no easy feat! Unlike so many typical first-person female protagonists these days, Leah was not at all a whiny, self-absorbed, angry teenager with low self-esteem. She wasn't a perfect Mary Sue, either. (A "Mary Sue" for those unfamiliar with the term are "perfect or idealized fictional characters who are able to perform tasks better than they should be able given their experience") Leah was definitely not that. She had her share of flaws - she is shy, she's a little naive and a bit too trusting at times, and she struggles with doubts about herself and whether or not she believes in the Luminate (this world's name for God).

3. Rafe. Prince Raphael, to be exact. While there were times I wanted to step into the book and absolutely wring his neck for being terribly stupid, I just couldn't help but love him, as well. Though he is impetuous, a bit reckless, and entirely too oblivious to how he takes his position for granted, he means well, and you just have to love him for trying so hard. Despite his flaws and youth, the author does a fantastic job showing that he truly does have the makings of a great leader and king...

4. Unexpected twists and turns. Another thing I loved about this book was how it kept me on the edge of my seat. I had no idea where it was going to go next. Leah runs into several obstacles throughout the story and with each one I was left wondering, "How in the world is she going to overcome that?" She always had a plan of some kind, but I could never predict what it would be.

5. This is another point I don't have a name for... Emotional Investment, maybe? The story ripped my heart out multiple times... not just once, like normal stories... but it also did a good job stitching the pieces back together.

6. Friendship/Romance. I loved how Rafe and Leah were friends, and how it was obvious that they had been friends their whole lives, before they fell in love. I'm not always a huge fan of romance, but the kind I tend to like best is the kind that just sort of happens naturally and feels believable as the story unfolds. This was exactly the sort and amount of romance I enjoy in a story. There were emotions and a couple of kisses, but even though their romance was central to the story, it wasn't overpowering and the plot and character development came first. I also loved that part of the building blocks of their friendship came through Rafe teaching Leah to read when they were children!

7. The gentle fairy-tale elements to this fantasy novel. There was a lovely fairy-tale feel to this story, though I didn't notice it at first. For the first three-quarters of the book, it honestly doesn't even seem to have very many overtly "Fantasy" elements to it, either. The "not our world" medieval castle/royalty setting was the only clue to the genre for much of the story. I'm not going to give any spoilers, but there are some more fantasy elements that come through later in the story that took me pleasantly by surprise!

8. Leah's Mother. It would have been so easy for the author to make Leah an orphan. SO EASY. But I'm just thrilled that she didn't. Leah's Ma is an incredible character and a wonderful mom (which was a neat side-benefit to reading this in May right before Mother's Day) and there just aren't enough of her kind of character in fantasy. I appreciated the tension that having her mother around added to Leah's life and the decisions she had to make... as her mother is both strong of faith and capable as a seamstress, but also not in the best of health.

9. Gretchen. Leah's best friend did not get a lot of page-time, but she was a fun little bundle of energetic addition to the story. I loved that Leah had a fairly normal existence. She has a good position as a chamber-maid, and even has potential to move up in the world. She has a loving mother, good friends, and even her "boss" is stern, but kind, and thinks highly of Leah.

10. The end. I can't say ANYTHING about this because SPOILERS but I will say that it is beautiful and perfect and I did NOT think it was going to be because the story seemed determined to prevent the ending from being anything like what I was hoping for... I think the thing I appreciate most is that the author let certain characters be far more than caricatures. People can change. Circumstances and events of magnitude can change minds and stances. Even those set in their ways can learn humility and wisdom. And that is illustrated beautifully at the end of this book. I'm not even disappointed that the sequel appears to be about completely different characters, that is how satisfying the end was.

11. Honorable mention: the nuns were another favorite aspect of this story, but I really can't say anything about them without giving away spoilers.... so.... just go read the book yourself and then we can discuss!

Ideal Audience:12 and up, lovers of Kingdom Adventure, fairy tales, romance, and adventureBooks and movies you would compare this to:Ever After

Did you have a favorite character or least favorite character? Favorite: Leah

Rating: PGReason for choice of rating:Innuendo and non-graphic bedroom/dressing scenes

The Review:Having previously been introduced to Janeen Ippolito’s writing in her short story, “Superhero Publicist”, in the “Hall of Heroes” anthology, I jumped at the opportunity to request and receive a free copy of “Lawless: the Ironfire Legacy” for the purposes of a review.

The characters really brought this book to life for me. The tangled weave of Kesia’s past and the challenges she faced drew me into the world of Sekastra. I loved the bond between Kesia and Zephryn, but, in the beginning, I also secretly rooted for the tide to turn in favor of Captain Windkeeper. I was torn between which of the two suitors I favored more for her.

While the romantic triangle makes for some interesting situations and dialogue, romance is not the focus of this story. The real source of conflict is a long-time war between two cultures that had once worked together. Twists and turns paired with excellent world building, Lawless is an engaging story filled with tension and intrigue.

I look forward to reading more of Janeen Ippolito’s skillfully woven and wonderfully inventive tales in the future.

The Review:What a fun anthology! I love anthologies with a common theme-in this case doorways-because it allows me to see the breadth of artistic creativity. Each author has their own unique spin on the theme, and each story has its own unique world. I was entranced by this volume, and I truly believe there is something in here for everyone. Well done!Ideal Audience:Anyone who enjoys portal fantasy.What mood did this book leave you in?Satisfied.

The Review:When Helena and Jason pull a refugee from the Blessed Lands out of her sinking boat, they didn’t expect that she would turn their lives upside down. Nine-year-old Kailani, who calls herself the “Daughter of the Sea and Sky”, cannot assimilate herself into the lifestyle of reason and logic in the Republic, but neither can she return to the Blessed Lands until her penance is over. In an attempt to rescue her from being sent to a correctional facility, Helena applies to be her temporary legal guardian until her tribunal date and brings her to the Glen Eagle Farm – the artist colony where her estranged mother lives.

The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky is not so fast-paced that it makes you lose your breath and yet it’s not so slow that you get bored with it. It’s a beautifully written story, a little vague and dreamy at times, that touches on the divide between faith and reason, love and duty, and how an innocent child can somehow throw your life off-course.

Carlson and Benjamin offer counterpoints to each other – one man trying his best to protect a young girl even though it may cost him his job and his pension, the other with fanatical fire in his heart, doing all he can to use her for his own gain. Litwack’s characters are well-fleshed out, and because of that, easy to identify with – their hopes are sometimes your own, their foibles are often things we are guilty of but try to deny.

At times the battles fought felt a little too close for comfort, the questions raised leaving uncomfortable feelings in my chest. With these stirred emotions, the ending, while providing closure to the story, left me with a feeling that there should have been something more. There should have been a deeper meaning to this seemingly simple story. And maybe there is. I just have to discover it for myself.

Rating: PGReason for choice of rating: The story deals with native Bornean beliefs, which include headhunting and blood sacrifices, though they are not described in detail.

The Review:Iban Dream is the story of a young Iban boy left to fend for himself after the shaman of his longhouse ordered for him to be cast out because of an evil spirit. Adopted by Tok Anjak, respected leader of the Orang Utan, as a child and claimed by Sengalang Burong, the warpath god, in his adulthood, Bujang Maias must reconcile his peaceful upbringing by the apes with the violence required of him as a warrior and headhunter.

In this fanciful tale, Mowe offers a glimpse into the ancient beliefs of the headhunting Ibans. Legends come to life as Bujang discovers his heritage and his half-forgotten adat (customs) through his conversations with the gods, the spirits, the animals, and the augur of the longhouse that he eventually comes to lead.

Mowe's writing is style is simple, capturing the innocence of Bujang and the rural naïveté of the Ibans as they come into contact with the deceptions and depravity of life outside their jungle for the first time. There is a distinctive sound to the way she writes, as if she is one of the story tellers of old, narrating according to the oral tradition.

Although the blurb describes it as "fantasy fiction" drawing on the real beliefs, taboos and terminology of the Ibans in Borneo, the book itself reads like a mix between folktales and mythology. Iban Dream, with its animistic, tribalistic framework may be a little jarring for readers used to white epic fantasy.

The Review:Castle Marsh, an extremely isolated guinea pig castle, is experiencing a strange energy drain. When it ruins the King's birthday feast, the Princeling twins, Fred the Philosopher and George the Engineer, decide that they must do something about it.

The mysterious tunnel that appears in response to Fred's spoken request for a secret passage is only the first surprise in their adventure. As they continue on their quest for answers, they meet the Hugo, a travelling salesman; Victor, a harried barkeeper; as well as Prince Lupin and Lady Nimrod, who provide much wisdom and help. They also discover new drinks (other than strawberry juice), find a time tunnel and visit new castles.

The Princelings of the East is intended for children ages 8 and up, so I wasn't too sure if I would like it. I generally enjoy childrens' books, but have been finding some of them a little too bland lately. This book isn't, though. Pett has a nice blend of wit and wisdom, as well as a very engaging writing style - not overly simplified, as if talking down to children, but simple, clean and crisp, so that you're attracted to it, no matter how young or old you are.

The Review:Lucy Sinclair is making her big debut in London Society. Everything is going well - her presentation to the King and Queen is as wondrous as she hoped - and her brother-in-law, Lord Thornewood, is scritinizing everyone and everything to make sure that she's protected from The Order of the Eternal Sun. Yet, Lord Alexander Radcliffe, Earl of Devonshire, manages to attend her debut ball, unknown and uninvited, managing to steal her heart - and exposing her to danger - all in one slick move.

On the surface, The Order of the Eternal Sun felt a little run-of-the-mill. After all, you have a young female protagonist who is coming of age and has new powers she's still learning to control, there's a love interest and another potential love interest (both very young and handsome), dangerous enemies who are after her (and her family), an overbearing/overprotective father-figure and an old mentor who steps into the picture.

And yet, Leake makes it fresh and exciting. Lucy is no shrinking lily - she's half Sylvanian with dangerous enemies after her and a growing power she's still learning to control but she's not sitting around freaking about it. She's taking decisive action, mostly rational, though sometimes too trusting - like any eighteen year old tends to be when they're in love (or at least when they think they are).

Alexander starts off as an enigma. Leake masterly fills you in with pieces of his history so you think you know his motives and yet at the same time, you're left confused - as confused as Lucy - because you can't tell if he is good or bad. You want him to be good, because you don't want Lucy to be hurt, but at the same all information points the other way and you think that she's being overly naive and trusting.

Because she's a teen and I suppose this is YA fantasy (maybe?) there's a love triangle and whilst I'm tired of this, it was quite well set up and not simply a sappy girl who can't make up her mind.

The Sylvanian world is well-constructed. You're drawn into a place of wonder and excitement. It feels as if Leake has created a real world with very real rules and consequences. The only thing I really want to know is why those with lesser Sylvan blood (such as Lucy's niece) seems to be growing stronger powers than their full-blooded or half-blooded Slyvanian relatives - it's something not quite explained in the book, and something the Queen also wants to find out, so I'm guessing this might be the topic (or at least the driving force) of the next story set in this wonderful world.

One slight detraction - from a story set in the 1800s Victorian English, most of the events of the story felt like it was set in the right period. However, some phrases used and spoken expressions felt a little too modern. Then again, I'm not an expert on the period, so I can't say for sure.

Reviews by Readers

This blog features reviews of Fellowship of Fantasy titles submitted by readers.All reviews are the opinion of the reviewer, not necessarily of the Fellowship of the Fantasy's administrators or authors.Likewise content ratings applied to the books are at the discretion of that particular reader/reviewer. What may be a G for one may be PG for another.